Machine for making cotton tipped applicators



Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ MACHINE FQR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLIcAToRs Filed Nov. 17. 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BWV f ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/ENTOR.

ww au? zy/ZATT M ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED F'FLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 16 Sheet's-Sheet 3 L NIf'ENToR.

WVM L? BY/? j TTORNE Y Nov. 20, 1951 w GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING coTfToN TIPPED APPLICAToRs Filed Nov. 17. 1947 1e sneets.sheet .4

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A TTORNE Y Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm in! im l lll lllll I n im f am f M M n' 'I'TUR NE Nov. 20, 1951 Filed NOV. 17. 1947 W. GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 f; Q1 j NOV. 20, 1951 w GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 f f v`- l N M\\ l l v m\ 'ug n v N n i ,I1 fl L1] l INFENTOR. I l l l l Q0 I 'il I www@ Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 'I'TORNE Y Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 i" Iz 70 v70S l l 1 l INIEN'I'OR.

Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 17, 1947 1e sheets-sheet 1o /4 h i z2 INENTOR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 w GANZ 2,576,068

MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED lAPPLC'I'ORS Filed NOV. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet ll TTORNE Y W. GANZ Nov. 20, 1951 N TIPPED APPLICATORS MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTO Filed NOV. 17, 1947 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 l NI 'E N TOR.

BY a? MM ,Wn/RNW Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPEED APPLICATORS 16 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Nov.` 1'7, 1947 INI/ENTOR.

Nov. 20, 1951 Filed Nov. 17, 1947 W. GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS 1e sheets-sneu 14 A JNVENTOR.

BY y y M ATTORNEY NGV. 20, 1951 w, GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS 16 Shasta-Sheet 15 Filed New. 17, 1947 UORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 w. GANZ MACHINE FOR MAKING COTTON TIPPED APPLICATORS 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Nov. 17, 1947 INI/ENTOR.

l?. i YM/M l TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 20, 1951 MACHINE FOR MAKING COTION Tm APPLICATORS William Ganz, Teaneck, N. J., signor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation oi' New Jersey Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 788,434

16 Claims. (Cl. lil- 149) The present invention relates to the making of cotton tipped applicators and is concerned more particularly with an improved method of wrapping a patch of cotton on the end of the stick and with a fully automatic machine operative to carry out the method eiliclently and expeditiously.

A primary aim of the'invention is the attainment of a high degree oi uniformity in the size, density, and shape of-the completed swab and to obtain a firm and secure gripping of the cotton to the` stick end.

',llie herein disclosed method of making cotton tipped applicators includes the steps of drafting or stretching of the cotton somewhat in ribbon 'form and detaching .pieces of a size suitable for swabs. Thereafter the patches of cotton are positioned in the path of a laterally moving stick which partially wraps the cotton about itself as it moves into the bight of stick twirling and cotton forming rolls. The rolls are preferably rubber tired at their ends where they engage the middle of the stick, i. e., frictionally engage and give the stick and cotton a twirling motion. The forming rolls are recessed annularly in a manner such that the space between peripheries of two adjacent rolls is approximately wedge or pear shaped with the larger end of the wedge closed, or nearly so, and with the smaller end of the opening extending toward the rubber tired drivers, i. e., the center of the stick. and partially telescoping or overlapping the end of the stick .positioned therebetween. As the forming rolls engage one or both ends of the stick and its cotton, the stick and cotton are given a twirling motion which in connection with the rotating forming rolls. rolls the cotton onto one or both ends of the stick. However, by means or a slight speed differential between the surface of the stick driving portion of the rolls .and the surface of the annularly grooved swab shaping or forming portion of the rolls, the patch of cotton is caused to become tightly wrapped upon the stick and the excess gradually worked outwardly toward the end of the stick whereby there is formed an enlarged blunt, pear shaped head of cotton having a tightly wrapped core on the stick. By this improved t method of wrapping or rolling the cotton upon the stick. the stick is twirled within a wad of twirling cotton as distinguished froma wad of stationary cotton, and the slightly faster surface speed of the small diametered stick relative to the surface speed of the larger diametered wad of cotton, has the effect of producing not only a tightly wound core. but also of further drawing out the individual cotton nbres so that a bunching-up .or one-sided formation of the swab is prevented. Where. for example, stationary cotton wads are applied by the lingers to twirling sticks, a bunching of the cotton on one side of the stick is diiiicult if not impossible to avoid with the result that the finished swabs lack uniformity in shape and texture, andare exceedingly diillcult to handle in actual use. In a similar way the prior automatic cotton applying machines tend to produce swabs that are lacking in uniformity in size and texture for in such known machines the stick is twirled within a stationary structure containing cotton and matting up or one-sided swab formations cannot be avoided.

The present invention further undertakes to .provide a power-driven machine operative automatically to feed sticks from a bulk source successively into position between revolving pairs of stick rotating and cotton rotating and shaping rolls, and upon completion of the wrapping or swab forming operation, to deliver the completed swabs into boxes or suitable containers without manual handling.

Still a further object of the invention is to render available a machine capable of performing the above explained wrapping or forming method on one end or on both ends of a swab stick, and as a further refinement, a machine adaptable to perform the method on sticks of various lengths with the making of but a few simple adjustments to the machine.

Still another objective of the invention is the construction of a swab stick making machine that is simple to operate and control and which requires a minimum of attention other than keeping it supplied with materials and the removal of the packaged swabs, and one which, with due regard to the delicateness of the slender sticks to be handled and the wispy nature of the cotton to be processed, is constructed for continuous operation, without fouling, for long periods of time.

In the carrying out of the aims and objectives of the invention it is proposed to construct a machine composed essentially of four interrelated and cooperative groups of mechanisms. namely, a hopper and stick feeding group; a cctton drafting or stretching, severing and feeding group; a stick twirling and swap shaping group; and a swab delivery and packaging group. It is further proposed to arrange the aforementioned groups of mechanisms on a frame work in a manner constituting a substantially complete The machine also embodies a rotatable drumelement having stick receiving recesses in its periphery that operates to transport sticks from a loading hopper to a position between the stick twirling and swab forming rolls and thence to a delivery station where they are automatically dlscharged upon a conveyor. The conveyor carries the finished cotton tipped applicators away from the drum and deposits them cumulatively upon a pick up shelf. At this point. means are provided, preferably in the form of a vacuum head, to remove a predetermined number of swabs from the shelf and to carry them to a packaging mechanism. The packaging mechanism is, of course, synchronized with the operation of the swab making and delivery mechanisms to insure timely removal of the finished applicators and complete'count of the packaged swabs. In the instant embodiment. the packaging mechanism operates once for each swab making cycles, and 10 finished applicators are deposited in a collector trough on each operation of the pick-up head.

The machine is designed to have one or more previously carded strips or slivers of cotton fed through successive pairs of intermittently movable drafting or stretching rolls and iinally through the bight of intermittently driven and continuously driven rolls which detach a patch from the strip of cotton and cause the patch to be projected to a position lying across the path of movement of the sticks carried on the drum. Also, before the sticks reach the successive patches of cotton, a slight amount of adhesive is applied to the ends thereof to insure permanency in the adhering of the cotton to the stick. During the actual wrapping of the cotton upon the stick, a cotton moistening agent or a liquid medicament may be applied which further aids the shaping of the cotton wad into a neat appearing swab.

To operate the machine it is necessary only to supply the stick hopper .with sticks, fill the adhesive and liquid moistening reservoirs with material, and supply and insert the ends of the cotton slivers into the bight between the leading pair of cotton rolls. As soon as the sticks and cotton patches are brought into operative positions, the wrapping or rolling of the cotton to the stick ends commences and continues successively and uninterruptedly until the machine is shut down. Meanwhile, the attendant stations himself at the delivery end of the 'machine and applies empty containers and removes filled containers from the machine.

When it is desired to form swabs on one end only of the stick, only one side of the machine is supplied with a cotton ribbon. When longer or shorter swab sticks are to be made on the machine one or both of the frame-work members that journal and support the various rolls, shafts, sides of the stick hopper, etc., are adjusted away or toward each other accordingly.

and on again securing the frame structures in position, the machine is operated as before.4

Other objects and advantages will be in'part indicated in the :following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred, typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the right side of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the left side of the machine. i

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation of the upper part of the machine as viewed from the left in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section of the upper part of the machine on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the cotton feeding mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line B-B of Fig. 5 showing a stick sweeping through a detached length of cotton.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing the rollers for feeding the cotton strip, drafting and detaching a length therefrom, and the drive for same.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figs. 5 and 7. l

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail elevation of the upper right end of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on the line Iii-I 0 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line II-II of Figs. 5 and 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 1 showing the forming operation. l

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail vertical section on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 3 showing the feed mechanism for the sticks, and the pressure release mechanism for the forming rollers.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail elevation of the turret driving mechanism indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and with casing cover removed.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line Ira-l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the conveyor mechanism and drive for same.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 17 as viewed from the right with the delivery table omitted.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged rear end elevation of the lower part of the machine as viewed from the right in Fig. 1, showing the means for operating the delivery mechanism.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail end view of the delivery end of the machine as viewed from the right in Fig. 1, and showing the vacuum head, its track and connections.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged vertical detail section at the delivery end of the machine showing the vacuum head in its forward position engaging the applicators in order to transport them into the path of the bag loading mechanism, and showing the end of the conveyor which positions fixed position to the cross-stays Fil.

the applicators on a table extending beneath the vacuum head.

M ain frame Referring more particularly to the structure disclosed in Fig. 1. the machine embodies a main frame F, which includes a base member FI, upstanding corner supports F2, lengthwise extending horizontal girders F3 mounted atop the corner supports, and horizontal cross-stay members FI mounted upon the `girders, the several members being all bolted or otherwise securely fastened together to form a sturdy, rigid, boxlike frame adapted to house and support the various mechanisms hereinafter mentioned.

Auxiliary frame On top of the stay members F4 and lying in parallel spaced planes normal to the plane of the stay members, are three bearing plate members A, B, and C (see Fig. 3), each of which is formed with an extending footing a, b, etc. (Figs. 3 and 13) adapted to be clamped normally in The outer bearing plate C, for a purpose later explained, is constructed and mounted for adjustments across the cross-stays whereby to increase or decrease the space between plates B and C.

The auxiliary frame, comprising bearing plates A, B, and C, supports a laterally extendible stick hopper H, stick feeding mechanism indicated generally by the legend SF, an lndexible and laterally expansible stick carrier T, cotton feeding mechanisms indicated at CF, gluing, moistening and delivery mechanisms indicated at G, M, and D respectively (Figs. 1 and 4). These mechanisms will now be explained.

Stick feeding mechanism-Figs. 1, 4, 13

The stick hopper H is constructed of two telescopingly arranged end plates, each supported by one of the bearing plates B and C, as to be adjustable laterally therewith. 'I'he hopper is provided at its bottom with a relatively narrow throat opening h1 that communicates with a vertically disposed passageway h2. Underlying the passageway h2 is an oscillatable, notched barrier and transfer member h3. The barrier mem ber is mounted upon a shaft h4 journaled in bearings h5 that are supported upon one of the crossstays Fl of the main frame. Also secured to the shaft h4 is a lever h6, which 1n turn is connected by link h" to the end of the pivoted lever ha. The lever ha is pvoted at hg to the main frame F and carries intermediate its ends Ia cam follower ho. A main drive shaft 50, journaled in bearings 5I provided by the main frame, extends across the machine and carries a stick feeding actuating cam hn whose contoured periphery actuates the follower hlJ to effect oscillatory movement of the barrier member h3. A tension spring 71.12, connected between the pivoted lever h3 and a stationary part of the frame, maintains the follower h1 in contact with the cam hn. The peripheral surface of the barrier member is curved and formed with a transverse recess h, which on oscillation of the barrier, incident to a rotary movement of the main cam shaft 50, is brought first to a position underlying the hopper passageway h.2 and thence to a position laterally removed and into substantial alignment with a 'stick receiving recess tc in the indexible carrier T. To prevent jamming of the sticks in the throat of the hopper, a clearing device-is provided which is disclosed herein in side of the hopper throat to the extent that a.y

passageway slightly larger than the diameter of a stick is formed between the wheel periphery and the opposite wall of the hopper. It is to be noted further, that the toothed wheel h is caused to be driven in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 13) so that its toothed rim picks up excess sticks that may accumulate in the leading end of the passageway h2 and carries them back into the hopper. The returned sticks are stripped from the wheel by one or more tangentially disposed fingers h1" that lie in shallow annular grooves formed in the surface of the wheel h1". The passageway h2 is given a width such that the sticks may fall therein and lie one on top of each other as illustrated in Fig. 13, until they are picked oif one-by-one, from the bottom, by the barrier and transfer member ha and transferred to the carrier cavities t6.

Stick carrier-Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 12, 13

The stick carrier, indicated generally by the legend T, is composed preferably of two discs t that are secured by screws t to flanged hubs t which in turn are normally secured fast to an indexible shaft t3. The outer rims of the discs are formed with a series of equi-spaced recesses t* into which recessed stick receiving blocks 1.s are placed and locked in position. The outer edge of each of the blocks tIs is formed with a stick receiving recess i which, at the period of dwell between index movements. is aligned with the stick tr.: transfer member ha of the stick feeding mechanism. 'I'he carrier is intermittently rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) to move it to eight stations only four of which are effective. In the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the transfer member h.3 has placed a stick in one of the recesses t of the carrier and the latter is about to carry it upwardly out of the slot 71.1a to the next station. Two indexing movements bring the stick to the station at the top of the drawing where a pair of paste rollers a1 apply a slight amount of glue to each end of the stick. Two further indexing movements carry the stick through a cotton patch receiving zone and into the bight of the stick twirling and swab forming rollers, and two further movements brings the stick to the lowermost position illustrated in 4 where it is delivered upon a conveyor mecha nism D. Two stationary guide rims t" and t' are mounted on the frame members and extend about the periphery of each carrier disc from the stick loading station to the stick delivery station and effectively close the open sides of the stick recesses t* during that portion of the path of stick travel.

As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 12, there are two carrier discs t1 and two sets of guide rims t" and t' spaced a pre-selected distance :i: apart. The spacing of the discs is determined by the length of sticks to be processed. To aiord means for adjusting the discs axially along the shaft t. the ilanged hubs t"I of the carrier are splined to the shaft and adapted for axial movement thereasvaoes 7 along. Set screws t are provided to hold the discs in the selected position, while the shaft splines t1 maintain the carrier discs in phase. Likewise, the

stick carrying blocks t are designed and adapted for easy removal from the carrier for replacement or interchange with others of a different capacity, i. e., for larger or smaller diametered sticks.

Carrier indexing mechanism-Figs. 2, 12, 14, and

eight equally spaced propelling rolls I2 and eight intermediately located locking portions I3 about its periphery. The star wheel driver is mounted upon a parallel shaft I4 and comprises a disc l5 whose rim portion I6 is curved to match the locking portions of the star wheel. The curved rim I6 extends about one-half the circumference of the driver, and the remaining rim portion i1 is reduced in diameter to an extent necessary to clear the arms of the star wheel.

A crank lever i3 is pivoted at one end to the face of the crank disc I5, eccentric thereof, and at its other end to a second pivoted lever i3. 'I'he lever I3 is pivoted as at 20 to the plate A. .Two roll actuating blocks 2i are secured to the inner face of the lever I8, intermediate its ends. and positioned in spaced apart relation to receive therebetween the rolls I2 in succession. As the crank disc revolves, the lever I6 is moved endwise and arcuately, the arcuate movement brings the blocks in roll-receiving position and the endwise movement of the lever, effects a shifting of the inter-engaged roller I2 one station. As the lever I3 drops and the roller I2 is about to leave the slot between the blocks 2l, the concentric portion I5 of the crank disc I5 is about to enter one of the locking portions I3 of the star wheel. When correctly timed and related the crank disc locks the star wheel between the periods of movement caused by the orbital movement of the lever I6. In this way. the star wheel is given an intermittent movement from a continuously rotating shaft I4.

Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft I4 by means of a chain and sprocket drive, indicated at 22, initiating from the main shaft 50. An idler sprocket 23, operatively engaging the chain on its slack side is provided to keep the chain reasonably tight and the mechanism correctly timed.

Cotton feeding mechanism-Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 'I'he cotton feeding mechanism indicated generally at CF (Fig. 1) includes, in the instant embodiment, five pairs of feeding and drafting rollers 25 to 23 for each ribbon of cotton. Referring more particularly' to Figs. 4 and 5, each pair of.

rollers includes an upper idler roller 25', 26', 21' etc., and a lower driving roller 25", 26", 21" etc., arranged on parallel shafts journaled in the frames A, B, and C. The shaft of each f the upper rollersl 25', 26', 21 etc., is mounted in a yieldable bearing block 33 at each end, which block is spring pressed' by-a spring 3l (Fig. '7)

towards its lower corresponding roller 25", 26", 21" etc., respectively. Each roller of the five pairs of rollers is longitudinally ribbed and mounted on 35 thence under a guide 62e, into the bight between 8 its man. so um the ribs thereof intel-digitate with the ribs of its corresponding roller. The cotton ribbon. it will be observed. passes between pairs of rollers, whose interdigitating teeth cause a slight transverse crimping of the ribbon and provide the necessary grip to draft the cotton sliver.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, there are two gangs of cotton feed rollers coaxially arranged on their respective driving and idler shafts.

The leading three pairs of rollers 25, 23 and 21 are propelled intermittently and the trailing two pairs 23 and 23 are driven continuously. Furthermore, the pairs of rollers are driven at slightly increased rates over the rate of the speed of the preceding pair in the direction of travel of the cotton. The purpose of the non-uniform movement is to draft the cotton sliver and then to detain bits or patches of cotton.

The intermittently driven series of rollers derive their motion from any suitable Geneva driven gear such as gear 32 (Fig. '7) which meshes with gears 33 and 34 on the roller shafts 35 and 36.. The Geneva wheel 31, which is secured to the gear 32 is driven from an interrupted toothed gear 38 Journaled on a shaft 33. The Geneva 31 is furnished with four toothed sectors 31a and four locking arcs 31h, whereas the driver 33 is furnished with one toothed sector 36a whereby each full turn of the driver 33 effects a quarter turn of the Geneva 31 and its attached gear 32. Gear 32 is connected, as above explained, to drive the roll shafts 35 and 36. It is to be noted further that the gear 34, on the shaft 36, is larger than the gear 33, whereby the shaft 36 (and its pair of feed rolls 26) move more slowly than the shaft 35 and its feed rolls 21. The first pair of feed rolls 25 receives power intermittently from shaft 36 through a train of gears 40 located outside of the frame A (Figs. 5 and 9). The train 43 includes a gear 4l on the shaft 36, a'wide face idler gear 42 in mesh therewith and with a gear 43 fastened on feed roller shaft 44. The train of gears 43 is ratioed so as to give shaft 44 (and its associated feed roller pair 25) a relatively slow speed. The initial drive shaft 33, for the intermittently driven pairs of rollers 25, 26, 21. is driven from a countershaft 45 journaled in the lower frame F by means of a chain and sprocket mechanism indicated generally at 46. The countershaft in turn is driven from the main drive shaft 53 through another chain drive indicated generally at 41 (Fig. 1). As illustrated in Fig. 9, the aforementioned idler gear 42 is journaled to a normally clamped, but adjustable bracket 43. Unclamping of the bracket and swinging it about its pivot on the shaft 36, will withdraw the idler gear from mesh with gear 43 and stop the rotation of the leading pair of rollers 25.

The drive for the continuously driven pairs of feed rollers 23 and 23 is shown most clearly in Figs. 5, 10, and 11 and includes the roll shafts 5I and 52 that are geared together inside the frame A, by a train composed of gears 53, 54 and 55 of which 54 is an idler. Gear 53 is meshed with another idler 56, on a stub shaft 51. The gear 56 is driven by a gear 53 and a chain and sprocket mechanism indicated at 53 also connected with the countershaft 45 (Fig. 2). The ratioing of the gears 53, 54, and 55, is such as to cause the final pair of feed rollers 23 torevolve faster than their preceding pair 26.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one or more ribbons or slivers of cotton CO, is led over a high bar 6I. 

